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The Waltons

Weekdays at 12 PM

eastern (on most MeTV stations)
The Waltons is based on the rural upbringing of creator Earl Hamner Jr. who detailed his childhood memories in the 1961 novel Spencer’s Mountain, which was made into a feature film two years later starring Oscar winners Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara. Following the success of a 1971 made-for-television movie based on the beloved characters, The Homecoming: A Christmas Story, and with urging from Congress for TV networks to air more family-oriented programming, The Waltons television series premiered on CBS in 1972

Stories

Waltons creator Earl Hamner Jr. explained what it was like when Michael Learned left the series
When he wasn't acting in The Waltons, Richard Thomas enjoyed entering Great Danes in dog shows
It took a long time for Richard Thomas to become comfortable with being alone when he joined the cast of The Waltons
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Waltons creator Earl Hamner Jr. explained what it was like when Michael Learned left the series
When he wasn't acting in The Waltons, Richard Thomas enjoyed entering Great Danes in dog shows
It took a long time for Richard Thomas to become comfortable with being alone when he joined the cast of The Waltons
Michael Learned received a funeral wreath as a gag gift during her final days on The Waltons
Richard Thomas loved acting in television, despite its reputation
Judy Norton didn’t always like the food served in The Waltons, even in the Thanksgiving episode
Which character would cook the best Thanksgiving feast?
Michael Myers from Halloween was in an episode of The Waltons
Tiny Terror Poll: Choose your favorite killer doll!
Ellen Corby believed that she had lost her role on The Waltons after she became sick
Recession TV: How The Waltons captured the spirit of a nation in financial crisis
Richard Thomas wasn't looking to ''bury'' John-Boy
Is this opening narration from The Waltons or The Twilight Zone?
Are these episodes of Leave it to Beaver or The Waltons?
Ellen Corby was an expert in playing old ladies
Which Walton was it?
Olivia Walton: The makings of a modern woman
Will Geer said that he was glad he was blacklisted from Hollywood in the 1950s
Will Geer would make up lines on the set of The Waltons
The Waltons was partially based on Earl Hamner Jr.'s childhood — here's where fact and fiction differ

Episode Guide

Episode Guide

Season 1
  • Season 1
  • Season 2
  • Season 3
  • Season 4
  • Season 5
  • Season 6
  • Season 7
  • Season 8
  • Season 9

Ep : Homecoming: A Christmas Story

The family takes in a deaf girl who was abandoned by her mother.

Ep 1: The Foundling

The family takes in a deaf girl who was abandoned by her mother.

Ep 2: The Carnival

Four carnival performers are stranded after the carnival leaves Walton's Mountain, so they stay with the Waltons while they try to get back home.

Ep 3: The Calf

The children are upset when their father sells a newborn

Ep 4: The Hunt

John-Boy goes on his first turkey hunt with his father and two of his friends

Ep 5: The Typewriter

John-Boy borrows an antique typewriter from the Baldwin sisters so he can submit a proper manuscript to a magazine

Ep 6: The Star

A meteorite crashes through the roof of the Baldwin sisters' "Recipe"" room

Ep 7: The Sinner

A young preacher, Matthew Fordwick (John Ritter), comes to Walton's Mountain fresh from seminary, where he has learned the currently-popular fire and brimstone style of preaching.

Ep 8: The Boy From The C.C.C.

A troubled teenager from Manhattan runs away from the Civilian Conservation Corps to Walton's Mountain.

Ep 9: The Ceremony

A Jewish Nazi-refugee family moves to Walton's Mountain from Germany

Ep 10: The Legend

John's World War I buddy (Jim Antonio) visits,

Ep 11: The Literary Man

A well-read man claiming to be a writer, comes to Walton's Mountain and befriends John-Boy, helping him with his writing

Ep 12: The Dust Bowl Cousins

John's cousin, her husband and children seek refuge in Walton's Mountain after losing their Kansas farm to the Dust Bowl

Ep 13: The Reunion

The Baldwin sisters plan to hold a family reunion when their cousin Homer visits.

Ep 14: The Minstrel

A young wandering musician visits the Mountain

Ep 15: The Actress

Alvira Drummond, a famous stage and screen actress, is invited to stay at the Walton home after her car breaks down in Walton's Mountain

Ep 16: The Fire

A girl whose mother died years ago, runs away from her father and new stepmother, back to her deserted house in Walton's Mountain.

Ep 17: The Love Story

John Boy falls in love with Jenny Pendelton.

Ep 18: The Courtship

The family sets up their cousin Cody, a 64-year-old bachelor, on a date with Cordelia Hunnicutt

Ep 19: The Gypsies

A band of gypsies are traveling through Walton's Mountain when they become stranded

Ep 20: The Deed

The validity of the Waltons' claim to their land is questioned when they cannot produce a legal deed to the property.

Ep 21: The Scholar

When Verdie Grant learns her daughter is graduating from college, she feels embarrassed by the fact that she never learned to read or write.

Ep 22: The Bicycle

John-Boy's meddling in a long-distance romance backfires.

Ep 23: The Townie

John-Boy refuses to take friendship with a neighbor's sheltered daughter to the next level

Ep 24: Easter Story, An

When Olivia is stricken with polio, John-Boy refuses to accept the doctor's prognosis that she may never walk again.

Ep 25: Easter Story. An

When Olivia is stricken with polio, John-Boy refuses to accept the doctor's prognosis that she may never walk again.

Ep 1: The Journey

An elderly neighbor reinforces John-Boy's feelings that despite hard times he is lucky to be surrounded by a loving family

Ep 2: The Odyssey

John-Boy seeks some solitude to write his stories, but finds a life-altering situation

Ep 3: The Separation

A misunderstanding and plain stubborn pride causes a rift between the Walton grandparents

Ep 4: The Theft

The disappearance of some valuable silver pieces throws suspicion on one of the Waltons

Ep 5: The Roots

An itinerant worker and his young son stay with the Waltons, causing the son to want his father to give up life on the road

Ep 6: The Chicken Thief

A local "Robin Hood"" who steals from the ""haves"" and gives to the ""have-nots"" causes a crisis of conscience for John-Boy "

Ep 7: The Prize

As the Waltons prepare their entries for the local fair, an old suitor of Olivia's visits

Ep 8: The Braggart

When a grownup Hobie Shanks visits the Waltons, John Boy seems to be the only one put off by his outlandish claims.

Ep 9: The Fawn

Erin adopts a wild animal while John Boy gets a life lesson with a new job

Ep 10: The Thanksgiving Story - Part I

Thanksgiving time on Walton's Mountain means a turkey shoot, a school play about early settlers, and the big meal. One year it also included a rekindled love affair and a life-threatening accident

Ep 11: The Thanksgiving Story - Part 2

Thanksgiving time on Walton's Mountain means a turkey shoot, a school play about early settlers, and the big meal. One year it also included a rekindled love affair and a life-threatening accident

Ep 12: The Substitute

When Miss Hunter is called away unexpectedly, a substitute teacher with ways of her own takes over

Ep 13: The Bequest

The promise of inherited money is behind some happy moments and unusual conflicts for the Walton Family.

Ep 14: The Airmail Man

Engine trouble on the air mail transport plane means the Waltons have a guest for a few days.

Ep 15: The Triangle

John Boy's growing attachment to Miss Hunter is rocked when she becomes interested in someone else.

Ep 16: The Awakening

Grandma is turning 68 and concerned about getting old

Ep 17: The Honeymoon

Olvia and John finally get a chance to take their postponed honeymoon to Virginia Beach

Ep 18: The Heritage

An offer to buy their land makes the Waltons think about what it would be like to have more money than they need

Ep 19: The Gift

Jason and John Boy's friend Seth is diagnosed with leukemia.

Ep 20: The Cradle

Olivia is happy to learn that she is pregnant again, but John worries that having another baby will be hard for her

Ep 21: The Fulfillment

Curtis and Ann are unhappy to learn that they are unable to have children of their own.

Ep 22: The Ghost Story

Strange things are occurring at the Walton home. The family uses a Ouija board to ask questions about the happenings

Ep 23: The Graduation

John Boy graduates from school. Needs a suit. Ends up with grandpa's suit

Ep 24: The Five Foot Shelf

Olivia buys books from a peddler who does not turn in the order

Ep 25: The Car

John Boy is in need of a car, now that he is in college.

Ep 1: The Conflict - Part 1

Grandpa's sister in law is being forced out of their home by a government project.

Ep 2: The Conflict - Part 2

Grandpa's sister in law is being forced out of their home by a government project.

Ep 3: The First Day

Everything seems to go wrong on John-Boy's first day at Boatwright University

Ep 4: The Thoroughbred

John Boy and his mule aim to get the Walton family name on a local race's trophy for the first time since Grandpa won the race years ago.

Ep 5: The Runaway

Everyone in the Walton house is too busy to pay attention Jim Bob so he takes matters into his own hands.

Ep 6: The Romance

In this episode, John Boy encourages his mother, Olivia's, talent in painting

Ep 7: The Ring

Mary Ellen finds a ring in a purse she got. Belongs to a neighbor. Loses it at a dance

Ep 8: The System

John Boy tutors another person on a scholarship

Ep 9: The Spoilers

A mountain man moves his family back to Walton's Mountain

Ep 10: The Marathon

John Boy participates in a dance marathon with Daisy

Ep 11: The Book

John Boy gets his book of short stories published

Ep 12: The Job

John Boy gets a job reading to a blind woman

Ep 13: The Departure

John Walton gets job in city because he wants an adventure

Ep 14: The Visitor

Former neighbor, an elderly man comes back to Walton's Mountain to live

Ep 15: The Birthday

Grandpa has heart problems. Thinks he is going to die.

Ep 16: The Lie

Ben secretly borrows John Boy's car and gets both into trouble

Ep 17: The Matchmakers

Cora Beth joins the series and marries Ike

Ep 18: The Beguiled

John-Boy encounters a sassy, spoiled, selfish gal whose selfish ways cause problems for John Boy and even for Jim Bob's friend

Ep 19: The Caretakers

Grandpa and Grandma feel left out and move to house-sit for for a neighbor

Ep 20: The Shivaree

A cousin who is named after Olivia visits

Ep 21: The Choice

John wants to expand the mill and call it Walton and Sons, but Jason wants to study music

Ep 22: The Statue

Grandpa wins a statue at a raffle

Ep 23: The Song

Jason writes a song to sing with Bobby Bigalow's band

Ep 24: The Woman

John-Boy falls for a poet who is visiting his college

Ep 25: The Venture

John takes on a loan to improve the business and he gets a big order

Ep 1: The Sermon

The reverend and teacher get married

Ep 2: The Genius

John-Boy's dean asks him to take care of a 16-year-old genius college student for a weekend.

Ep 3: The Fighter

A prize fighter arrives searching for work, living and training in the Waltons' barn

Ep 4: The Prophecy

John's 25th high school reunion is being planned; he thinks he is not successful, but at the reunion, everyone thinks he is the winner

Ep 5: The Boondoggle

A traveling reporter visits the mountain to write story about Judge Baldwin

Ep 6: The Breakdown

Jason spends too much time playing with a band

Ep 7: The Wingwalker

Jim-Bob falls in love with a wing-walker

Ep 8: The Competition

Mary Ellen and Erin both fall for a forestry student

Ep 9: The Emergence

Marsha, John-Boy's old girlfriend, returns to sell her family home at the urging of her fiance

Ep 10: The Loss

Cousin Olivia, who married on the mountain in The Shivaree episode, returns to Walton's Mountain following her husband's sudden death

Ep 11: The Abdication

King Edward VIII abdicates the throne and the Waltons follow the story

Ep 12: The Estrangement

The family helps Vera Walton and her husband, Wade, navigate a rough patch in their marriage

Ep 13: The Nurse

Mary Ellen is eager to begin nursing school, but is unhappy to learn that she lacks the education in algebra and chemistry needed to enter

Ep 14: The Intruders

Ben is upset at how he is treated at the mill

Ep 15: The Search

Olivia and Elizabeth take a car trip; Jim-Bob is forced to also go.

Ep 16: The Secret

Jim-Bob wonders if he is adopted because he does not look like other family members

Ep 17: The Fox

Ben starts to hunt animals for their skins to sell for profit.

Ep 18: The Burn Out - Part 1

John-Boy smokes a pipe and Grandpa leaves a heater plugged in and turned on and a fire breaks out

Ep 19: The Burn Out - Part 2

John-Boy smokes a pipe and Grandpa leaves a heater plugged in and turned on and a fire breaks out

Ep 20: The Big Brother

John-Boy sees a young innocent looking girl who appears to be traveling alone

Ep 21: The Test

Olivia gets a job in the city as a dressmaker

Ep 22: The Quilting

Mary Ellen resists joining in on a quilting when she reaches the marrying age

Ep 23: The House

An old abandoned home is condemned

Ep 24: The Fledgling

John-Boy wants to buy a printing press to start his own newspaper

Ep 25: The Collision

Selena Linville returns and talks to John-Boy about the rebellion in Spain

Ep 1: The First Edition

John-Boy publishes his first newspaper

Ep 2: The Vigil

Grandma is sick and Mary Ellen misdiagnosis the ailment.

Ep 3: The Comeback

Jason's scholarship at the music academy is canceled

Ep 4: The Baptism

A famous evangelist visits Walton's Mountain to preach and baptize converts

Ep 5: The Firestorm

John Boy publishes excerpts from Hitler's writing in his newspaper and the town is upset.

Ep 6: The Night Walker

An unknown person is walking around Walton's Mountain at nights and causing worry

Ep 7: The Wedding - Part 1

Mary Ellen is engaged to Dr David Spencer and they plan the wedding.

Ep 8: The Wedding - Part 2

Mary Ellen is engaged to Dr David Spencer and they plan the wedding.

Ep 9: The Cloudburst

A mining company comes to town and wants to buy land.

Ep 10: The Great Motorcycle Race

Jim-Bob fixes up Ike's old motorcycle and enters a motorcycle race

Ep 11: The Pony Cart

Martha Corrine, Grandpa's sister in law, comes to the mountain to visit.

Ep 12: The Best Christmas

Olivia wants this Christmas to be the best ever

Ep 13: The Last Mustang

A wild mustang is captured on Walton land and Grandpa wants it to remain be and remain free

Ep 14: The Rebellion

Another woman begins to play the church organ instead of Grandma which upsets Grandma

Ep 15: The Ferris Wheel

Elizabeth has nightmares about being trapped on a Ferris wheel.

Ep 16: The Elopement

The forestry student who previously visited Waltons Mountain (in "The Competition"") now returns

Ep 17: John's Crossroad

John takes a job away from home to make more money

Ep 18: The Career Girl

Erin graduates from high school still having no direction for her life

Ep 19: The Hero

The Waltons find out Sheriff Ep is a decorated war hero and John-Boy wants to write about it.

Ep 20: The Inferno

John-Boy won the right to accompany news reporters to a news event - the Hindenburg

Ep 21: The Heartbreaker

Curtis Willard's sister left her husband to pursue a singing career.

Ep 22: The Long Night

Grandma is in the hospital and Grandpa wants to bring her home

Ep 23: The Hiding Place

A Baldwin relative visits and John-Boy wants to interview her about events in Europe

Ep 24: The Go-Getter

John and Ben again come to blows about work at the mill.

Ep 25: The Achievement

John-Boy sent his novel to a publisher and does not hear anything.

Ep 1: The Hawk

A hawk is attacking the Waltons' chickens

Ep 2: The Stray

The Waltons find a 12 year old runaway in their barn

Ep 3: The Recluse

Jason helps a woman named Fern; she is withdrawn from the world because of a past relationship

Ep 4: The Warrior

An elderly Indian and his grandson visit the mountain to find their family burial ground

Ep 5: The Seashore

The Waltons visit the seashore and stay at the Baldwin's beach home

Ep 6: The Volunteer

GW Haines proposes to Erin

Ep 7: The Grandchild - Part I

Mary Ellen gives birth to the Waltons' first grandchild

Ep 8: The Grandchild - Part II

Mary Ellen gives birth to the Waltons' first grandchild

Ep 9: The First Casualty

GW Haines is in the army

Ep 10: The Battle Of Drucilla's Pond

Soldiers practice war at Drusilla's pond

Ep 11: The Flight

Jim-Bob meets a boy who is on his way to join the Air Corps, but the boy never actually leaves

Ep 12: The Children's Carol - Part I

As Christmas approaches, Mary Ellen and the baby leave to be near Curt

Ep 13: The Children's Carol - Part II

As Christmas approaches, Mary Ellen and the baby leave to be near Curt

Ep 14: The Milestone

Olivia becomes emotional (menopausal symptoms) and runs away from home to visit a relative

Ep 15: The Celebration

The Waltons have one remaining payment on their mortgage

Ep 16: The Rumor

Members of Flossie Brimmer's family visit the mountain

Ep 17: Spring Fever

Ben and Jim-Bob get on each other's nerves. They end up dating each other's girlfriends.

Ep 18: The Festival

In spring of 1940, Jason practices his music for a town festival

Ep 19: The Anniversary

John and Olivia celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary

Ep 20: The Family Tree

Jason helps Verdie research her family tree

Ep 21: The Ordeal - Part I

Elizabeth falls while standing on top of a wood pile and fractures her leg

Ep 22: The Ordeal - Part II

Elizabeth falls while standing on top of a wood pile and fractures her leg; Doctors doubt her ability to walk ever again.

Ep 23: The Return - Part I

John-Boy returns to Walton's Mountain to write about the failing economy and lack of jobs

Ep 24: The Return - Part II

John-Boy returns to Walton's Mountain to write about the failing economy and lack of jobs

Ep 25: The Revelation

John-Boy proposes to Daisy and she says yes.

Ep 26: Grandma Comes Home

Grandma returns from the hospital but the family does not let her do anything

Ep 1: The Empty Nest - Part 1

Grandpa Zeb has died and everyone is mourning.

Ep 2: The Empty Nest - Part 2

Grandpa Zeb has died and everyone is mourning.

Ep 3: The Calling

A cousin of the Baldwin sisters visits

Ep 4: The Moonshiner

Boone Walton returns after he was convicted of moon-shining andJason promises to keep watch on him

Ep 5: The Obsession

Mary Ellen starts taking pills to stay awake, and then to sleep.

Ep 6: The Changeling

Elizabeth is turning 13 years old - not quite a child, not quite a woman

Ep 7: The Portrait

Erin meets a painter who wants to paint her portrait.

Ep 8: The Captive

Corabeth Godsey feels trapped by her unchanging life on Walton's Mountain

Ep 9: The Illusion

Verdie Foster's daughter Esther returns to the mountain. After graduating with honors from college, she cannot find a job.

Ep 10: The Beau

A former boyfriend of Grandma's comes to visit

Ep 11: Day Of Infamy

Mary Ellen packs to go to Hawaii to join Curtis at Pearl Harbor.

Ep 12: The Yearning

A new minister joins the community at Walton's Mountain.

Ep 13: The Boosters

Ben starts an autocourt venture with Corabeth.

Ep 14: The Conscience

Jason expresses doubt to the army recruiters that he could ever kill a person.

Ep 15: The Obstacle

John-Boy asks his family to help Mike Paxton, a friend who was recently handicapped

Ep 16: The Parting

Olivia is always tired these days. When a rest does not help, she sees a doctor and learns what is wrong

Ep 17: The Burden

While Jim-Bob is working underneath a car, it falls and Jim-Bob has a close call with death

Ep 18: The Pin-Up

Ben has a new camera and takes pictures of Erin that becomes a pin-up

Ep 19: The Attack

Ike has a heart attack and is hospitalized

Ep 20: The Legacy

Ashley Longworth returns to Emily Baldwin

Ep 21: The Outsider

Ben surprises his family by bringing home a woman - his new bride

Ep 22: The Torch

An old girlfriend of John Walton buys the Drew Drop Inn where Jason works.

Ep 23: The Tailspin

Jim-Bob finds out he is not eligible to fly in the Air Corps due to bad vision

Ep 24: Founder's Day

The town prepares for a Founder's Day Celebration

Ep 1: The Home Front - Part 1

John has been appointed to the local draft board

Ep 2: The Home Front - Part 2

The family members all seem involved in the war effort

Ep 3: The Kinfolk

Rose arrives at the Waltons' home with her grandchildren

Ep 4: The Diploma

John has to prove he graduated from high school in order to continue getting contracts and security for government contracts

Ep 5: The Innocents

The parents who work at Picket's defense plant leave their children in the parking lot while the parents work

Ep 6: The Starlet

Film makers film a documentary at Picket's Plant and make Erin the "star"". "

Ep 7: The Journal

John-Boy is still missing, but a publisher has his journal and wants to publish it

Ep 8: The Lost Sheep

Ashley Longworth Jr returns to the mountain. He proposes to Erin and she accepts

Ep 9: The Violated

A soldier is sending his wife mail, but getting no replies

Ep 10: The Waiting

John-Boy is no longer missing in war

Ep 11: The Silver Wings

Jim-Bob delivers a package to a woman whose husband is in the war

Ep 12: The Wager

A run (on foot) and ride (on horse) race is being held. Mary Ellen and Erin bet two guys that they will win

Ep 13: The Spirit

Things begin to disappear from stores and homes as it gets closer to Christmas

Ep 14: The Fastidious Wife

Corabeth tries to sell a book at the store about being a perfect wife

Ep 15: The Unthinkable

A soldier in Jason's company is Jewish. He tells the Waltons what is happening to Jews by the Nazis

Ep 16: The Idol

There is a new teacher at school who is fun and modern.

Ep 17: The Prodigals

Jeffrey and Josh steal from Ike's store and Josh gets caught.

Ep 18: The Remembrance

Zadok Walton visits the mountain. He seems eccentric, but turns out he is held in esteem by Boatwright University for his work

Ep 19: The Inspiration

Mamie Balwin has a cataract, but does not want an operation

Ep 20: The Last Straw

John thinks about giving up the lumber mill when it seems like everything is going wrong

Ep 21: The Travelling Man

A former boyfriend and dance partner of Rose's comes to visit

Ep 22: The Furlough

John-Boy is released from the hospital and returns to Walton's Mountain

Ep 23: The Medal

Mary Ellen receives a medal that was awarded to Curtis after he died

Ep 24: The Valediction

Jim-Bob's class is graduating and he has the high grade

Ep 25: A Decade of the Waltons

All the family is preparing for Grandma's birthday and her present is to be a photograph album. This allows us to look back on important moments throughout the series

Ep 1: The Outrage - Part 1

Verdie's husband Harley is arrested for an old crime

Ep 2: The Outrage - Part 2

Verdie's husband Harley is arrested for an old crime

Ep 3: The Pledge

Mary Ellen wants to attend medical school

Ep 4: The Triumph

Jason and his squad find out the war is over, but there is a German soldier still shooting at them

Ep 5: The Premonition

While happy the war is over, Cindy has a premonition that Ben is in trouble

Ep 6: The Pursuit

A woman accuses Jim-Bob of fathering her unborn child

Ep 7: The Last Ten Days

Ben and another captured solider are led from camp on an unknown trip

Ep 8: The Move

Ben returns home. He plans on leaving the Waltons' mill and becoming an engineer

Ep 9: The Whirlwind

Jonesy arrives in town and meets Mary Ellen.

Ep 10: The Tempest

Mary Ellen travels to Florida.

Ep 11: The Carousel

When Cindy's father dies, she goes through his things and she finds adoption papers

Ep 12: The Hot Rod

Jim-Bob and Jody open an auto repair place

Ep 13: The Gold Watch

Stanley Perkins is retired and returns to the mountain to see Rose

Ep 14: The Beginning

Another new minister begins at Walton's Mountain. The church is in disarray, but he gets the community involved.

Ep 15: The Pearls

Corabeth returns to her family home to help a dying aunt

Ep 16: The Victims

A neighbor is being beaten by her drunken husband and the Waltons help

Ep 17: The Threshold

John-Boy needs a job. At the university, he convinces them to let him set up a television media program.

Ep 18: The Indiscretion

Corabeth finds a romantic letter in Ike's belongings and wants a divorce

Ep 19: The Heartache

Rose and Stanley plan to get married.

Ep 20: The Lumberjack

A new company starts in the area and wants to sell wood to the Waltons.

Ep 21: The Hostage

One of Mary Ellen's mountain patient dies, leaving his young teen to the helping hand

Ep 22: The Revel

John-Boy returns to New York with a new book - that is not good